Alarm, light, and safety signaling device



June 14. 1949. g, F, L ND 2,473,436

ALARM, LIGHT, AND SAFETY SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Nov. 13, 1946 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 14, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE "ALARM,'LIGHT,- A ND SAFETY SIGNALIN G DEVICE Elmer F. Lynd,"Cleveland, Ohio Application November 13, 1-946, Seria-l No. 709,464

(Cll17 7 339) 9 Claims. 1

The object of my present invention-has been to devise a novel form of a unit'in the nature of an alarm, light andsafety signaling mechanism or device particularly designed-for use in conjunction with dwelling places, commercial buildings, or the like.

:In the carrying out of my invention various objects are attained. In the first place, the device or unit of the present invention provides a bell ringing feature-analogous to those commonly in use today for-advisingof arrival'of visitors to -a home, apartment, commercial building or the like. Additionally, the unit of the present invention involves provisions whereby on operating the door bell or chimeringing appliance, a light Will be put on at the door entrance so that anyone in the dwelling or apartment may readily see who is-outside the entrance door, prior to opening of the latter. The light feature referred to is a part of the audible signaling'or-bell'ringing feature of my invention.

Asafety objectiveis achieved also in'the operation of my invention. In this connection'it is known that in darkdistricts of cities, quiteoommonly, .persons are often chased by purse snatchers, or persons havingacriminal bent, with disastrous results. According to the use of my invention however, it is possible for such persons when pursued, to run up to the entrance of a home or building equipped with the alarm and light signaling unit hereinafter'described, to press the door button "for operating the audible signaling device,andsimultaneously throw on thelight provided at the door entrance adjacent preferably to such door button. In this way the entrance of the home or building will be illuminated immediately and at the same time the signal in the form'of a door hell or chime alarm will be sounded. Under the above conditions my invention when used in the manner last described becomes a safety device that may often be of utmost value for the protection of the public.

For a 'full understanding of my invention and the advantages of the same reference may be had to the following detailed description, and to the accompanying drawings, and in the latter:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation, artly broken awayshowing the entrance door to a dwelling, apartment or similar building, the invention hereinafter being illustrated as mounted upon one side of the frame of the door similarly to the arrangement customarily found today for door bell units.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the side of the door frame v'l-l-ii'ch is equipped'with my invention and shows the details of the audible and visual signalingrnechanism in the normal unoperatedposition of the various parts.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view somewhat similarto Figure z and, showing certain parts-of the=mechanism illustrated in Figure-2 after the audible signal button has been depressed or pushed in to-cause the sounding ofthe-bell chime orother audible signal-in the dwelling or building and at the sametimeput'onthe light which will illuminate the entrance where-the door-is located.

Figure 4 is a view'showlng more clearly the expanded position of'the disc thermostat by which the parts of the audible and visual signal are restored to normal position, the-thermostat being in its expanded condition to normalize the switch lever.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary-sectional view taken about onthe line 5"-5of Figure 3 showing the relation of the switch lever to-the stationary switch contact member.

Describing my invention specifically I have illustrated in Figure lot the drawings, in a somewhat fragmentary 'manner, the usual entrance to a dwelling, apartment or other building comprising the door frame I in which is hung the usual door 2. As seen in the above figure at one side of'the door frame I isdisposed my newly invented unit including acasing 3 equipped at its lower end. portion with the push'button 4 for controlling an audible signal or alarm such as the usual door bell or 'signalingchimes. At its upper portion the casings is provided with a translucent member 5 made 'of glass -or plastic material in "the rear of which is disposed a light the rays of which are adapted to pass through the translucent member 5 to illuminate "the entrance in which the door marked 2 1s mounted, exteriorly thereof.

Now referring to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings particularly it will be observed that the audible Sig-na l operating button 6 is the usual plunger type button mounted in 'a small casing I secured to the main'enclosing'casin'g 3 and project'ing-inwardly from the front side of the latter,

the button or plunger, may be normally maintained in its outward position by means of a coil spring 3. The button i has an inner stem or plunger portion Qada'pted to engage and move the lower enlarged ehcl 1'0 of a pivoted switch lever I i the latter having the pivotal mounting i2 intermediate its ends, and adapted to cooperate at a point between the pivot 12 and theenlarged end It] with a stationary contact plate 13 secured i-n a suitable manner within the casing 3.

The inner end of the lower enlarged portion of the switch lever II is adapted to also co-operate as a circuit closing member with the movable contact member I4 suitably supported in a mounting plate I5 which may be of round form the general arrangement of the parts I4 and I5 being somewhat similar to the ordinary method of mounting of a bell ringing button such as now used on home or at the entrances to apartments or buildings.

As seen in Figure 2 the movable contact operating member I4 has an electrical contact portion I6 at its inner extremity to engage with the stationary electrical contact I"I. As illustrated the members I4 and H are so related that when the parts It and I! are moved together an electric circuit including these parts will be closed. This electrical circuit comprising conductors I3, I St and suitably connected up with a transformer 2 I, also includes the audible signal alarm or bell comprising the chimes 22 according to the showing in my drawings. Of course, there may be substituted for the chimes 22 any ordinary electric signaling bell such as quite commonly used today for bell purposes in homes.

The electric circuit means referred to also includes a conductor 23 connected with the stationary contact member I3, a conductor 26 connected with the switch lever II and extending to the light bulb 26 and a conductor 25 leading from the light bulb 26 to the transformer 2 I. The electric circuit means as shown is conventional and may be varied of course in accordance with the skill of those versed in the electrical art.

At its upper end the switch lever I I is equipped with an abutment lug 21 which abutment 2? is disposed normally spaced from but opposite the movable stem member 28 of an expansible disc thermostat 29 mounted in suitable supporting bracket means 30 and adapted for adjustment to vary its time of operation, in the customarily conventional manner of its construction. The thermostat means referred to may be of any general type such as commonly in use today and is well known. This thermostat is operated by heat generated within the casing 3 when the light 25 is put on and the disc of the thermostat is expansible after the manner portrayed in Figure 4, whereby to effect a lengthwise movement of the actuating stem portion 28 of the thermostat for a purpose now to be set forth.

With the above construction of my mechanism in mind the operation thereof is as follows:

A person upon approaching the entrance to the dwelling that may be equipped with my invention, wishing to signal his arrival or use the unit of my invention as a safety device, will depress the plunger button 6 and thereby cause a swinging action of the lower large portion Ill of the lever II to move this switch lever into contact with the movable button or contact actuating member I4, the size and weight of the lever I i will be sufiicient for maintaining the same in the operated position mentioned, and illustrated by Figure 3 so long as the member 6 is pressed inward under which conditions of course the audible signal 22 will be in operation to signal or alarm the persons in the dwelling.

Since the lever I I controls the light circuit including the light bulb 26, when the said lever is in the position of Figure 3 it will make contact with the stationary contact member 13 and put on the light 26 to illuminate the entrance, simultaneously with the operation of the audible Signal.

If the pressure on the button of plunger 6 is released it will return to its normal outward position as shown in Figure 3 by the action of the spring 8. The lever II however will not return to its position of normal status as indicated in Figure 2 but will remain in contact with the contact I3, maintaining the light 26 on, until sufficient heat is generated in the casing 3 to act upon the thermostat 29 for expanding the thermostat in the manner shown in Figure 4. On such expansion the thermostat actuating stem 28 will strike the abutment member 27 while the latter is in position as shown in Figure 3 and thereby move the lever II with a rocking movement so as to disengage the lever from the stationary contact I'3 at which time the bell or audible signal 22 will cease operating and the light 26 will go out.

The effect of the light 26 of course is to sufficiently illuminate the entrance of the dwelling so that it affords a zone of safety for a person who is being pursued by anyone with criminal intent. Thieves and robbers do not pursue their criminal tactics of course in a place where there is plenty of light and therefore, the advantages of my unit as a safety mechanism will be clearly apparent.

As regards to thermostat 29 it may of course be adjusted to maintain the audible and visual signaling means in operation for a period of several minutes more or less as desired. Moreover in the action of the thermostat 29 as its condition returns to normal after expansion in the manner of Figure 4, it will become inoperative, at which time the lever II will be restored to non-operating position, and the parts will be in the positions thereof as shown in Figure 2.

If desired and my construction of unit, readily so permits, the initial movement of expansion of the thermostat 29 may separate the lower large contact portion of the switch lever II from the push button I4 so as to stop the ringing of the audible alarm or bell means sometime prior to the disengagement of the lever II from the stationary contact I3. Thus the persons in the dwelling will not be annoyed by a continuous ringing of the audible signal, not withstanding that the light 26 is maintained operative or on for a considerable period subsequent to the ringing of the bell advising the occupants of the dwelling of the arrival of the person exterior to the entrance thereof. The contact I3 is of surficient size so that switch lever I I will engage contact I3 during a substantial portion of the pivotal movement of lever II and thus lever I! will remain in engagement with contact I3 for a certain period after disengagement of contacts I6 and Il due to the action of spring 3L If desired, the spring 3I may be made strong enough to cause disengagement of contacts IE and I! irrespective of the action of thermostat 29. A suitable spring such as found in ordinary bell buttons designated 3| will restore the pressure member It to its normal position discontinuing the sounding of the audible signal, when the initial movement of the lever Ii has been compelled by the action of the thermostat 29 in the manner described.

As a safety measure it may be desired at times to maintain the bell or audible signal 22 in continous operation, while under other conditions of home use of the unit of this invention, the operation or" preliminarily discontinuing the action of the audible signal while maintaining the entrance illuminated by the light 26, will be desirable.

Either method of use of my invention may be re-'- sorted to within the purview of my claimed subject matter.

It will be obvious that under some conditions my unit may be built so that the casing 3 and the various parts of the mechanism therein contained, except the parts l5, l4 and 3l' may be built as a unit so that such unit may be applied to an ordinary door bell system that may comprise the parts [5, l4 and 3| already mounted upon a door frame. Also under some conditions it may be desirable that the casing 3 as an entirety be made of a translucent substance such as glass or Lucite or the like and mounted bodily upon the door frame in such condition so that the entire casing will be illuminated when the light 26 is put on. These are variations of my invention contemplated within the purview of the same as circumscribed by the scope of my appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a signaling device, in combination, an entrance to a dwelling, apartment, or the like, comprising a door frame, a door therein, a light arranged to exteriorly illuminate the entrance, an audible signal interiorly of the entrance, and means to simultaneously operate the light and audible signal, including a control device, means for actuating said first means, said control device comprising means for maintaining the audible signal in operation and the light on after actuation of said actuating means is discontinued, and means to automatically discontinue operation of said audible signal and shut oil the light after a predetermined time subsequent to opera tion of said operating means.

"2. In a signaling device, in combination, an entrance to a dwelling, apartment, or the like, comprising a door frame, a door therein, a light arranged to exteriorly illuminate the entrance, an audible signal interiorly of the entrance, means to simultaneously operate the light and audible signal, including a control device, said control device comprising means for actuating said first m'eans, means for maintaining the light on after actuation of said actuating means is discontinued, and means to automatically shut off the light after a predetermined period of time subsequent to operation of said operating means.

3. A signaling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the last means comprises a thermostatic device operable by the heat of said light.

4. In a signaling device, in combination, an entrance to a dwelling, apartment, or the like, comprising a door frame, a door therein, a light arranged to exteriorly illuminate the entrance, an audible signal interiorly of the entrance, means to simultaneously operate the light and signal, including a control device comprising means for actuating said first means, means for maintaining the light on after actuation of said actuating means is discontinued, and means to automatically discontinue operation oi" the signal after a predetermined period of time subsequent to operation of said operating means, and subsequently to shut off the light after a predetermined period of time following discontinuance of operation of said signal.

5. In a signaling device, in combination, an audible signal, a light, and means to operate the light and signal, including a control device to maintain the light on for a predetermined period of time after actuation of the operation effecting means, said control means comprising switch means for operating said signal, switch means for operating said light, actuating means cooperable with one of said switch means for causing switch closing operation thereof, said last mentioned switch means being operative to maintain switch closing condition when so operated, a thermostatic device associated with the last mentioned switch to restore the latter to open condition, the last mentioned switch means being cooperable with said other switch means to close the latter, and spring means operable to restore said other switch means to open condition.

6. In a signaling device, in combination, an audible signal, an electric lamp, and means to simultaneously light the lamp and operate said signal, including a control device, means for actuating said first means, said control device comprising means for maintaining the lamp lighted after actuation of said actuating means is discontinued, and means to automatically shut oif the lamp after a predetermined period of time subsequent to operation of said operating means.

7. A. signaling device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the last means comprises a thermostatic device.

8. In a signaling device, in combination, an audible signal, an electric lamp, and means to simultaneously operate said lamp and said signal; including a control device, means for actuating said first means, said control device comprising means for maintaining the audible signal in operation and the lamp illuminated after actuation of said actuating means is discontinued, and means to automatically discontinue operation of said audible signal and shut off the lamp after a predetermined time subsequent to operation of said operating means.

9. In a signaling device, in combination, an audible signal, an electric lamp, and means to simultaneously operate the lamp and signal, including a control device, actuating means for said first means, said control device comprising means for maintaining the lamp illuminated after actuation of said actuating means is discontinued, and means to automatically discontinue operation of the signal after a predetermined period of time subsequent to operation of said operating means and subsequently to shut off the lamp after a predetermined period of time following discontinuance of operation of said signal.

ELMER F. LYND.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 998,705 Manson July 25, 1911 1,524,232 Bergstrom Jan. 2'7, 1925 1,580,013 Campbell Apr. 6, 1926 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,473,436. June 14, 1949.

ELMER F. LYND It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 5, lines 44 and 45, claim 2, strike out the Words said control device comprising and insert the same after the Word and comma means, in line 46, same claim;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of" the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of November, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant (Iom'missioner of Patents. 

